Vehicle-spring.



ARTHUR-Alli". PINE, F CASTLE ROCK, COLORADO.

`vr;nacenseams.

12"@ 'all whom may concern:

Be it i, known that l, ARTHUR F. PINE, citi'zen'of the United States, residing at Cas tle Boch, county of Douglas, and State of ,Coloradm have invented neu1 and useful lm- .,provenients lin Vehicle-Springs, of Whichl the following is a specilication.

.My invention relates to improvements in vehicle. springs of thaty type which -are cominonly designated as leaf springs.

v The objects of myinvention are to provide a forni of construction in which some leaves 'of a spring composed of a series of flat superposed and contacting leaves, Will act in opposition to the others Within a lim ited range or field of movement, While beyoud such field of movement all the leaves Also to to the entrelportion of the spring. A further on et o" ray invention is to provide a sultal; -for connecting the outer ends 'of opp( :ttely flexing 'spring leaves with each other, separation of the leaves at their respective ends may be prevented.

ln the drawings-- Figure "i is a side elevation of a vehicle spring embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 aplan view of saine.

3 is detail view in longitudinal section showing a fragment of a set of leaves embodying my invention as they appear un der normal flexion prior to the operation of clamping thein to the vehicle axle or to each other.

Fig. 4t is a cross sectional view drawn to a plane on line it- 4t of F ig. l, but showing al modified form of clamp. y

vFig 5` is 'a cross sectional view drawn to a plane on line 5 5 of Fig. l, and showing a. 'modified form of intermediate retaining clip.

Fig. 6 is a perspectiveview of one of the central clamping plates,` preferably eml., ployed.

Fig. 7 is aidetail Viewr of 'one of. theanti i' rattling coils for the intermediate clip p; Fig. 8 is afcross' sectional view drawn onv line 8 8 ofl Fig. '1,'l but showing llthe y'leaves corrugated in the same direction.

Like parts are identiied by the same reference; characters throughout the several views.

My improved vspring includes amain leaf 1. the extremities ef whlchare provided Speecation of Letters Patent.

Patented fapr. Qi, rigid.

Application led September 29, 1916. Serial No. 122,7S7f.-

with eyes 2 to facilitate connecting the spring with a vehicle frame. vThis spring is reinforced by a set of auxiliary leaveslS, 4, 5 and 6 of progressively decreasing length. The general function of these leaves and the coperative relation to the main spring l, is substantially the same as in all ordinary vehicle springs of the leaf type in common use, but in addition to these leaves, l mount a second auxiliary set of leaves 7 Sand 9 respectively, on the opposite side of the main leaf. Each of these auxiliary leaves of the second set, is formed to exert tension against the main leaf l in the opposite direction from that exerted by the auxiliary leaves 3, 4, l5 and 6 under vnormal conditions. The leaves 7, 8 and 9 are also of progressively decreased length, the leaf 7 being the longest and the leaf 9 the shortest. lnassembling the leaves to forni the spring, they vvill when 'superposefh assume substantially the positions in which theyy are illustrated in Fig. 8, With their central portions separated and their end portions in contact. rl`he normal curvature of leaves 3, ll, 5 and 6 is greater than that of the main leat1 and the normal curvature of the leaves 7, 8 and 9 is less than that of the main leaf 1. Therefore, when clamped together at the center as shown in lh 1, the endy portions pof the leaves 3, t, and l5 'will exert upvvardpressure againstV the main leaf .Lwhereas end portions of leaves 7, 8 and 9 Will exert a downward pressure thereon.. This' condition will continue during the flexion of the spring in either direction from thenorinal position until one or the ,other auxiliary' set is moved, not only to, but past its `normal curve which the leaves composing such set assume before assembly in binding relation to each other, but whenever' the flexion ofthe spring becomes so great in the direction in which any. leaf exerts normal tension as to carry the spring past its line of normal curvature, then such leaf becomes coperai tive With the auxiliary .leaves the other side in opposing further 1flexion. 'For example" if it be assumed that a loadplaced .,onthe ndsi of thespring shown-in Fig. l,

- spring curve lines of the leaves 7, 8 and 9 have been crossed', said leaves 7, 8 and 9 will then cooperate with the main leaf and with the auxiliary leaves in opposing such continued flexion.

Assuming that the load is suddenly removed, the recoil of the spring will cause theouter portions ofthe springs to move upwardly and as soon as the normal curve lines of the upper set of auxiliary. leaves 7, 8 and 9 have been crossed, said leaves will exert a progressively increasing downward pressure-upon the main leaf 1, thereby resisting thev recoil before the operative jleaves 3 'to 6 inclusive have reached their normal curve lines. The upper set of auxiliary leaves are, therefore, adapted to prevent a too violent recoil and they are also adapted to modify the recoil movement in such a manner `as to gradually limit Ait and reduce the field of movement without shock. The lower set of auxiliary leaves will, of course, act in a somewhat similar manner, first., in opposition to and then in coperation with the leaves 7, 8 and 9 of the upper set, in case a sudden load shock is imparted to the yspring in any direction which tends to straighten it. The ends of the auxiliary leaves are connected together by clips comprising cross plates 13 and 14C and clamping bolts 15. These clips may be of ordinary construction, or if desired, the upper cross piece may compose a bolt 17y provided with rollers 18 adapted to bear upon the top leaf, together with wire springs 20 coiled about the bolts with end portions bearing upon the top leaf substantially as shown. These rollers and coiled wire springs are, however, not essential to my invention.

The leaves composing the middle portion of the spring are clamped together by a set of stirrup-shaped clips 22 which may be of ordinary construction as shown in Fig. 1-, in which case these clips have threaded extremities extended through a clamping plate 23 adapted to engage underneath a vehicle axle 24, the extremities of clamping nuts Q5 and a supporting plate 26 being interposed between the/axle and the centralV portion of the spring. If desired however, clamping plates 29 and 30, of special form, may be employed as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6, these clamping plates being adjusted across the central portion of the as illustrated and connected by clamping bolts 21.

The central portion of the main leaf 1 and also the central portions of each of the auxiliary leaves 3, 4, 5 and 6, respectively, are longitudinally corrugatedv at. their. central axes. same direction (downwardly in Figs. 1 and 3) and are arranged to interfit, theV corrugations in leaf 1 projecting into the hollow lower set of co- A the clips receiving the These corrugations all bulge in thel ity in the upper surface of leaf 1, thereby forming a chamber havin a generally oval form which I preferably ll with an anchor or' core 'piece 35. The intertting corrugations and also the anchorl piece not only strengthen the central portion of the spring and impart rigidity thereto but also prevent the leaves of the spring from sliding longitudinally upon each other. Further, they coperate with the intermediate clips in pre- .venting lateral swinging movements of the leaves. The upper and lower clamping plates, if used in connection with the clips 22, will, of course, have their spring engaging faces contoured toit the corrugated portions of the spring leaves which the plates directly engage. For example, the cavity 37, illustrated in the supporting plates shown in Fig. 6, lis adapted to receive the corrugations formed in the leaf 6.

I do not limit the :scope of ymy invention to any specic number of auxiliary leaves,

the essential feature of my invention residing in the fact that one or more auxiliary.

leaves are employed on opposite sidesof the main leaf and are normally curved so that each will exert tension upon the main leaf in a direction opposite to the tension of the auxiliary leaf or leaves located on the opposite side of the main leaf. It will also be understoodfthat while I have referred to the main leaf as comprising a single leaf, it is not essential that this leaf should be a single leaf as distinguished from a plurality of leaves.. Further, while I have shown my vehicle spring as a semi-elliptical spring, having its central portion connected with a ve' hicle axle, it is not essential that my improved spring should be so used or assembled with its end portions connected to the vehicle frame and its central portions to..

the axle. On the contrary, the improved spring may be employed in any. relation where a bowed spring may be used. The corrugations and also the intermediate clips may be omitted. if desired, or modified to any extent without departing from the scope of my invention.

1. A vehicle spring comprising a main leaf, and auxiliary leaves on opposite sides of the main leaf, each arranged to normally exert substantially continuous pressure 1n` the direction of the maili leaf throughout its length, ,"said main leafl and the auxiliary leaves on one side of the main leaf having their central portions provided With longitudinally extending interfitting corrugaA tions.

2. A vehicle spring comprising a main leaf, and auxiliary leaves on opposite sides orm the main leaf, each arranged to normally eXert substantially continuous pressure in the direction 'of the main leaf throughouty its length, said main leai". and the auxiliary leaves on one side of the main leaf vhaving their central portions provided with longitudinally extending intertting corrugat-ions, and the auxiliary leaves on the other side of the main lear" being provided With longitudinal corrugations bulged in an opposite direction.

3. vehicle spring comprising a plurality of leaves, arranged in tvvo sets, the leaves of one set being provided adjacent their centers with interfitting corrugations lying entirely Within the contour of the leaves and bulged in one direction, and the leaves of the other set being provided adjacent their centers with intertitting corrugations lying entirely Within the contour of the leaves and bulged in an opposite direction, the leaves of the respective sets being in continuous contact along their longitudinal edges.

et. A vehicle spring comprising tvvo sets o' leaves, the leaves ot' one set being provided adjacent their central portions with intertitting oorrugations which `lie entirely Within the. contour of the leaves and are bulged in an opposite direction, the corrugations of the innermost leaves of the tvvo sets defining a periplierally continuous compartment; and a filler removably seated in the compartment to prevent relative movement between the two sets of leaves.

5. A vehicle spring comprising spaced leaves; links assembled with one leaf a shaft connecting the links; spaced rollers journaled upon the shaft and engaging another leaf; and a supplemental spring engaged in its intermediate portion by the shaft and held against movement longitudinally of the shaft bv the rollers, the supplemental spring coacting with Said other leaf.

6. A vehicle spring comprising leaves having oppositely bulged longitudinal recesses forming a compartment; and a filler' disposed Within the compartment and engaged with both springs to prevent' relative movement therebetween.

'7. A vehicle spring comprising leaves having oppositely bnlged recesses located entirely Within the contour of the leaves and deiining a compartment located entirely within the leaves; and a removable one-piece filler disposed ivithin'the compartment and coacting with the leaves to prevent relative movement therebetween, the iller being Wholly inclosed by the leaves.

8. A vehicle spring comprising'a series of leaves having their central portions longitudinally recessed on one side and provided with a corresponding bulge on the other side, the bulged portion of each leaf except the last in the series titting into the recess of the juxtaposed leaf.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in the presence of tivo Witnesses.

ARTHUR F. PINE.

Witnesses:

BART W. Heiss, JENNIE DONOVAN. 

